Anti-smog device

ABSTRACT

An improved fuel mixing device for internal combustion engines which includes a swirl-generating mixing device with angled deflection blades and a lip forming an edge at its bottom to provide improved mixing of fuel such as gasoline with air in conjunction with an adjustable fuel valve prior to combustion in the engine combustion chamber, so that substantially complete combustion of the fuel is produced, thereby substantially reducing smog producing compounds emitted in the engine&#39;&#39;s exhaust.

United States Patent 1 Bayton 1 July 3, 1973 [5 ANTI-SMOG DEVICE 2,846,203 8/1958 Voss et al. 26l/DlG, 50 3,395,899 8/1968 Kopa 26l/79 R [76] Inventor: Warren C. Bayton, 15551 S. Lorella 3 530 844 9 1970 K t i 26' 79 R Avenue, Gardena, Calif. 90247 I awal l [22] Filed: Apr. 16, 1971 Primary Examiner--Tim R. Miles pp NO: 134,811 Attorney-John Joseph l-lall 2 80 6| DI 5O [57] ABSTRACT [52] 61/79 48/] 2 52 An improved fuel mixing device for internal combus- 511 lm. Cl F02m 29/06 gif i g 5x 1221 ggt fg ggg ggffi gmgg [58] Field of Search 261/79 R, 19-2], d t it b n t ved f 261/70, 72, DIG. 50,64 A; 48/180 s, 180 M e ge a 8 W? i fuel such as gasoline with air in con unction with an adjustable fuel valve prior to combustion in the engine [56] References Cited combustion chamber, so that substantially complete UNITED STATES PATENTS combustion of the fuel is produced, thereby substanl,506,229 8/1924 Ensign 261/79 R reducing mog producing compounds emitted in 1,684,480 911928 Evans 48/180 B the engines exhaust 1,752,506 4/1930 Portail..... 261/79 R 2,262,013 11/1941 Lang 261/21 6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures Patented July 3, 1973 I/vvEA/me ANTI-SMOG DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a new and improved fuel mixing device for internal combustion engines which provides improved mixing of fuel such as gasoline with air prior to combustion.

2. Prior art Although various devices for mixing fuel such as gasoline for internal combustion engines are well known in the art, applicant is unaware of any device comparable to the present invention which provides a device that can be connected in place over a conventional carburetor and that has a swirl-generating mixing device member providing such complete mixing of fuel with air so that combustion in the engine of the fuel is substantially complete with a corresponding elimination of smog producing compounds in the engines exhaust, thereby producing a substantial benefit to the general environment and in particular to the atmosphere in urban areas where large numbers of automobiles are, as well as in congested city streets.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention includes a fuel reservoir designed to fit over the top of a convention carburetor of an internal combustion engine, after the air filter of the carburetor has been removed. The invention includes a new type of swirl-generating mixing device for atomizing and vaporizing fuel such as gasoline into a spray mixture of fuel and air just before combustion of the fuel in the engine, so that substantially complete combustion occurs with a resulting reduction in smog producing compounds being emitted from the engine exhaust.

The swirl-generating mixing device is generally cylindrical in shape and contains a plurality of angled deflecting blades fixed in position at the lower end of the swirl-generating mixing device. The lower end of the swirl-generating mixing device below the deflecting blades is formed into a lip having an edge which helps break up the fuel into a spray as it whirls through the deflecting blades of the spray nozzle.

Only one spray nozzle which produces a jet of fuel inside the air intake pipe is needed for both idling and acceleration of the engine. The air intake is readily and simply controlled by a throttle valve located above the spray nozzle inside the air intake pipe, which throttle valve is connected by linkages to the accelerator pedal of the automobile.

It is, therefore, an object of my invention to provide an improved fuel mixing device for internal combustion engines which will produce substantially complete combustion of fuel such as gasoline and thereby reduce smog by reducing the emission of unburned hydrocarbons from the engine exhaust.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved fuel mixing device for internal combustion engines which will cause the engine to run more quietly and smoothly when equipped with my invention, and improves gasoline mileage of an automobile.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved fuel mixing device which is readily adapted for attachment to a conventional carburetor of an automobile after the air filter of the carburetor has been removed.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an improved fuel mixing device which is made up of relatively few component parts that are relatively easy to manufacture and to assemble.

A yet further object of my invention is to provide an anti-smog device which also decreases dilution of engine oil by unburned fuel such as gasoline during the operation of an internal combustion engine.

These and other objects will be more readily understood by reference to the following specification and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which FIG. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of my invention with the reservoir lid .partly broken away.

FIG. 2 is a view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary section taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentarysection taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

The antismog device 10 fits on the top portion of a convention carburetor 12 (shown in outline only) which has had its air filter removed. The anti-smog device 10 has a fuel reservoir or chamber 14 with a fuel inlet opening 16 in its side.

The fuel inlet 16 is provided with a float 18 which is hinged to a flange 20 adjacent to the inner opening of the fuel inlet 16 to control the fuellevel in the fuel reservoir 14.

The bottom of the fuel reservoir 14 has a circular flange 22 for mounting the anti-smog device 10 on top of a conventional carburetor without its air filter. Within the fuel reservoir 14 a cylinder 24 is mounted in a generally vertical position, preferably, with respect to the bottom of fuel reservoir 14 and inside said flange 22. Support members 25 secure the reservoir 14 in position, on top of a conventional carburetor.

A reservoir lid 26 fits in sealing contact around the top of fuel reservoir 14 and is secured by screws 28 inserted into screw holders 29 formed in the top inside walls of fuel reservoir 14, or by other suitable means. The lid 26 is provided with a circular flange 30 connected to the top of cylinder 24.

Air intake pipe 32 is connected to the lid 26 by a flange 34 mounted on top of lid 26. The inner end 36 of air intake pipe 32 extends through lid 26 and projects into the top of cylinder 24.

Swirl-generating mixing device 38 is placed in sealing engagement by friction fit around the inner end 36 which bears against a circular shoulder 37 inside swirlgenerating mixing device 38. Swirl-generating mixing device 38 is in cylindrical form and has a plurality of deflecting blades 40 fixed in position at its ower end. The blades 40 are preferably set at an angle of about 45 from the vertical, but this angle may vary from about 10 less to 10 more than 45 and is critical within this range. The lower end opening of swirl-generating mixing device 38 is formed into a circular lip 42, angled inwards, and has a sharp circular edge 43.

A spray nozzle 44 having a flow regulating screw 46 with a spring 48 is located at one side of air intake pipe 32 with its inner end extending into the center of air inlet pipe 32. The outer end of spray nozzle 44 is connected to fuel line 50 which line extends into the fuel reservoir 14.

Throttle valve 52 is located insidethe air intake pipe 32 above spray nozzle 44 and mounted to air adjusting arm 54 which extends outside air intake pipe 32. Air

adjusting arm 54 has a stop 56 which bears against air adjusting screw 58 threaded into U-shaped screw holding frame 66 mounted on the top of lid 26. Holding spring 62 is connected at one end to a projection 64 extending outwardly from frame 66 and at the other end to a hook shaped projection 67 extending from arm 54. Air adjusting arm 54 is connected by linkages (not shown) to the accelerator pedal (not shown) of an automobile.

Choke valve 68 is pivotally mounted inside air intake pipe 32 on spindle 70 which in turn is attached to choke arm 72. Choke wire 74 connects choke arm 72 to a dashboard choke control knob (not shown).

In operation, the assembled anti-smog device is placed in position on top of a conventional carburetor 12 of an internal combustion engine with its air filter removed previously. The fuel or gasoline line for the carburetor 12 is disconnected from the carburetor and connected to fuel inlet 16.

In starting the engine, the operator first manually adjusts the choke valve 68 for a rich mixture of fuel, gasoline in this case, and air, and steps on the accelerator pedal which is linked with a conventional starter (not shown). The engine turns over, causing a partial vacuum in the air intake pipe 32 which draws gasoline from the spray nozzle 44 and from gasoline reservoir 14. As the gasoline mixes-with the air stream inside air intake pipe 32 and strikes the deflecting blades 40 of swirl-generating mixing device 38, the gasoline is whirled through the deflecting blades 40 and passes out over the edge 43 of the lip 42 of the swirl-generating mixing device 38, thereby being both atomized and vaporized into a fine spray.

The fuel air ratio is controlled by the action of the accelerator pedal through linkages to air adjusting arm 54 and throttle valve 52, in conjunction with the setting of flow regulating screw 46 for both idling and accelerating of the engine. 7

The effect of the swirl-generating mixing device 38 is to improve the mixing of fuel and air so that substantially all of the fuel is burned completely in the internal combustion engine; thereby substantially reducing the emission of unburned hydrocarbons from the engine exhaust and thus preventing the formation of smog by the reaction of unburned hydrocarbons emitted from the engine exhaust with air under the action of sunlight. Accordingly, another result of my invention is the improvement of the environment, particularly the atmosphere.

The number of blades 40 of the swirl-generating mixing device 38 may vary from two to eight, without adversely affecting the operation of my invention, although I have found that eight blades is optimum. The edge 43 of lip 42 should be as thin as possible, because the sharpness of edge 42 produces the spray of the fuel to a very large degree, and is therefore critical. Lip 42 must form an obtuse angle with the vertical walls of swirl-generating mixing device 38, preferably about 135, although the angle may vary plus or minus 10. Nevertheless, the obtuse angle of lip 42 is critical.

The opening at the lower end of swirl-generating mixing device 38 has a critical diameter with respect to the overall diameter of the swirl-generating mixing device 38. The opening formed by lip 42 must be no greater in diameter than about three-fourths of the diameter of swirl-generating mixing device 38, and must be no less than about two-thirds of the diameter of swirlgenerating mixing device 38.

The following is an example of the results produced by my invention.

EXAMPLE A 1960 Chevrolet Impala 2 door sedan, with a V-8 engine with a displacement of 285 cubic inches and a compression ratio of 8:1 was equipped with an embodiment of my anti-smog device. The gasoline mileage prior to being equipped with my device around the Los Angeles area was about l0 to 12 miles per gallon using regular gasoline. After installation of my anti-smog device, the mileage in the Los Angeles area was checked over a period of about 2 to 3 months, during which time substantially the same amount and type of driving of the automobile continued with a total mileage of about 2,000 miles. The gasoline mileage of the automobile was almost doubled, increasing to 22 to 24 miles per gallon with regular gasoline. There was also less dilution of the oil in the engine crank case with unburned gasoline, so that the need for oil changes was reduced substantially to about one-half of the oil changes found necessary before the automobile was equipped with my anti-smog device. Further, the engine ran substantially more quietly and smoothly when equipped with my anti-smog device. Also, there was no need to clean the carburetor, thereby saving substantial expense.

Although I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is understood that numerous changes in construction and arrangement of parts may be made within the scope of my invention as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. An anti-smog device for internal combustion engines capable of attachment to a conventional carburetor of an automobile after the air filter has been removed, comprising:

a fuel reservoir having a fuel inlet with a float connected thereto and flange means for mounting to the top of a carburetor;

a cylinder extending within said reservoir and above said flange means; I

a reservoir lid member having a flange making sealing contact with the upper edge of said fuel reservoir and having an air intake pipe mounted inside said flange;

a swirl-generating mixing device attached in sealing contact with the end of said air intake pipe and having a plurality of inclined deflecting blades fixed at its lower end above a lip forming a circular edge around the opening of said lower end;

means for providing and regulating the air intake for said air intake pipe; and

means for providing and regulating a jet of fuel into said air intake pipe, whereby substantially complete combustion of the fuel occurs due to whirling of the fuel through said swirl-generating mixing device and over said edge of said lip into a spray just before combustion, thereby substantially reducing the emission of unburned hydrocarbons from the engine exhaust.

2. An improved swirl-generating mixing device for mixing fuel with air in an internal combustion engine prior to combustion, comprising:

a cylindrical body with parallel interior side walls and having a plurality of inclined deflecting blades fixed at its lower end; and

a circular lip with a circular sharp edge formed at the opening of said lower end of said cylindrical body, said lip being inclined inwardly toward the center of said cylindrical body and below said deflecting blades.

3. An improved swirl-generating mixing device according to claim 2 in which there are'at least two inclined deflecting blades.

4. An improved swirl-generating mixing device according to claim 2 in which the circular lip forms an 

1. An anti-smog device for internal combustion engines capable of attachment to a conventional carburetor of an automobile after the air filter has been removed, comprising: a fuel reservoir having a fuel inlet with a float connected thereto and flange means for mounting to the top of a carburetor; a cylinder extending within said reservoir and above said flange means; a reservoir lid member having a flange making sealing contact with the upper edge of said fuel reservoir and having an air intake pipe mounted inside said flange; a swirl-generating mixing device attached in sealing contact with the end of said air intake pipe and having a plurality of inclined deflecting blades fixed at its lower end above a lip forming a circular edge around the opening of said lower end; means for providing and regulating the air intake for said air intake pipe; and means for providing and regulating a jet of fuel into said air intake pipe, whereby substantially complete combustion of the fuel occurs due to whirling of the fuel through said swirlgenerating mixing device and over said edge of said lip into a spray just before combustion, thereby substantially reducing the emission of unburned hydrocarbons from the engine exhaust.
 2. An improved swirl-generating mixing device for mixing fuel with air in an internal combustion engine prior to combustion, comprising: a cylindrical body with parallel interior side walls and having a plurality of inclined deflecting blades fixed at its lower end; and a circular lip with a circular sharp edge formed at the opening of said lower end of said cylindrical body, said lip being inclined inwardly toward the center of said cylindrical body and below said deflecting blades.
 3. An improved swirl-generating mixing device according to claim 2 in which there are at least two inclined deflecting blades.
 4. An improved swirl-generating mixing device according to claim 2 in which the circular lip forms an opening at the lower end of the body, said opening having a diameter of between a minimum of two-thirds and a maximum of three-fourths of the diameter of the cylindrical body.
 5. An improved swirl-generating mixing device according to claim 2 in which the number of inclined deflecting blades is eight.
 6. An improved swirl-generating mixing device according to claim 2 in which the inclination of the circular lip with respect to the cylindrical body forms an obtuse angle having a minimum of 125* and a maximum of 145*. 